BURIAL plots could be provided at the Basingstoke Crematorium if plans are approved by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

Dignity PLC, which runs Basingstoke Crematorium off the A30, has applied to the borough council for permission to change the use of open ground for marked burials and to install low level lighting.

It has also applied to build nine additional visitor car parking spaces for relatives to use.

According to the application, Dignity has received numerous requests from families wanting full burials at the site and if approved, they expect 25 people to be buried each year at the site.

The application says: "The proposal is to provide a new cemetery area immediately adjacent to the existing access. The development will consist of a number of parking bays adjacent to the current entrance road and various pathways to enable access to individual grave plots.

"The Basingstoke Crematorium has been operating since 1998 and has been providing a much needed public service for the residents of Basingstoke and the surrounding area.

"In order for the site to fully meet the needs of bereaved families a planning application is being submitted to enable the provision of a cemetery on site.

"The site has received numerous verbal requests from bereaved families requesting full burials and Basingstoke Council has also concluded that there is a need for further burial space within the immediate area."

A decision on the application is expected to be made by July 17.